Drive mechanism for speed responsive devices for railway trains



Feb. 7, 1939. H L BONE 2,146,463

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR- SPEED RESPONSTVE DEVICES F OR RAILWAY TRAINS Original Filed March 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTCR HQPZJQP B0129.

H15 ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1939. H. L. BONE. 2,146,463

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR SPEED RESPONSIVE DEVICES FOR' RAILWAY TRAINS Original FiledMarch 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV TOR Hepbe .Bozze.

HIS ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1939. H. L. BONE 2,146,463

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR SPEED RESPONSIVE DEVICES FOR RAILWAY TRAINS Original Filed March 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN TOR Henbeozze H16 ATTORNEY threaded portion of the spindle I 9. The outer race of the lower ball bearing 23 fits into a machined pocket 20f in the main casting 30. Inasmuch as the lower ball bearing 23 is held in position by the collar 24 on the lower end of the spindle I9 and the hub 25 of the collector ring drum 28 is held in position against the upper surface of the inner race of the bearing I6, all the forces set up by the spring 2| are taken up in the tubular shaft I5 itself. The only thrust transmitted through the shaft I 5 is that resulting from the endwise thrust of the gear I4 and the weights of the gear I4 and shaft I5. This thrust as well as the weights of the spindle I9, the collector ring drum 26 and a governor head mounted thereon are carried on the upper ball bearing I6 since the lower bearing 23 is free to move endwise in its. pocket 20I as will be understood by an inspection of Fig. 1, and can carry no thrust. Hence the spindle I9 is accurately journaled in the main casting 30 in a vertical position, and the gear l4 mounted on the spindle I9 is held in mesh with the gear I3 secured to the train axle 2 with the result that the spindle I9 and collector ring drum 26 are normally rotated at a speed corresponding to the speed of the train, the thrust and weight of this drivemechanism being carried on the upper ball bearing I6. As will appear hereinafter, the tubular shaft I5 is at times depressed and the gear I4 lowered out of mesh with the gear I3 with the result that the spindle I9 and drum 26 are not then driven by the train axle 2.

The bearing (not shown) for the train axle 2 may be of the usual self-aligning type which type permits movement of the axle 2 about the center of the spherical surface of the bearing, and thus a slight up and down motion of the driving gear I3 is permitted. In order to prevent disengage ment of the gears I3 and I4 when the driving gear I3 moves upward, the gear teeth are made as large as possible; and to prevent breakage of the gear teeth when thegear I3 moves downward, the spring 2I is so proportioned and adjusted that before sufficient force to break the teeth is obtained, the spring is compressed.

The speed responsive mechanism mounted on the collector ring drum 26, and for which the apparatus of the instant application forms the drive mechanism, is fully described in my aforementioned application Serial No. 12,002 and need not be here repeated.

In order that the drive mechanism may at times be disconnected from the vehicle axle 2, I provide a disengaging mechanism which is op erated through the medium of a handle located outside of the main casing or housing.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, as well as to Fig. 1, the handle IOI is secured by means of a bolt I03 to a shaft I02 which is journaled in a bearing in the main casting 30 and the inner end of which terminates in an eccentric I04, the eccentric being in turn adapted to engage the shifting plate 20 on the tubular shaft I5. The arrangement is such that with the handle IOI down as illustrated in Fig. 2, the eccentric I04 is free from the plate 20 and the gears I3 and I4 are in mesh by virtue of the biasing spring 2|, but that with the handle IOI lifted one-half turn the eccentric I04 engages the shifting plate 20 to force the tubular shaft I 5 downward against the action of the spring 2|, and the driven gear I4 is disengaged from the driving gear I3 and an inoperative condition of the spindle I9 is established. The flat surface of the eccentric I04 rests firmly on the upper surface of the shifting plate in this IIS and a contact spring I09 to close the circuit disengaged position. The handle IM and the eccentric I04 are held in the position corresponding to the engaging position of the gears by means of a steel ball I05 engaging a hemispherical depression in the shaft I02, the ball I05 being forced into'position by means of a heavy coil spring I06 located in a tubular cavity I01 which is closed at its outer end by a pipe plug I08. A corresponding depression in the shaft I02 is also provided for the disengaging position of the handle I M.

In order to check that the spindle I9 is disconnected from the driving axle 2, the movement of the shifting plate 20 is made to operate a spring contact I I0, the arrangement being such that the contact I09I I is closed when the plate 20 is up and the contact is opened when the plate is forced downward. The contact spring H0 is operated by a pin II2 of suitable insulating material and which pin is held in a lever II3, the lever I I3 being in turn pinned at II4 to a shaft H5. The shaft H is journaled in two bearings II1 formed in the main casting 30 and has pinned to it at I IS a forked cam-shaped lever II8 which lever is adapted to be operated by the shifting plate 20. A fiat biasing spring I2I held rigid at one end by a tap screw 200 engages the lever H3 and tends to rotate the lever H3 clockwise to force it back against a stop I 20. The cam surface of one of the arms of the forked lever H8 engages the lower face of the edge of the shifting plate and is so shaped that downward movement of the plate 20 operates the forked lever II 8 counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3 and the lever H3 and pin II2 are moved to the left against the force of the biasing spring I2I with the result that the contact spring I I0 is forced out of engagement with the contact spring I09 and the circuit connection therethrough is interrupted. When the shifting plate 20 is moved upward, the cam lever H8 is operated clockwise by action of the spring I2I and by the second of the arms of the forked lever II8 engaging the top edge of the plate 20 and the pin H2 is moved to the right away from the contact spring H0 and that spring by its own resilience engages the connection therethrough. Normally the lever H3 would be operated by the biasing spring I2I alone during this later operation, the forked lever being provided as protection in case the spring I2I should break. The parts are so proportioned that, when the shifting plate 20 occupies its full upward position, the cam surfaces of the forked lever II 8 'do not touch the plate since the spring I2I engages the lever II3 and forces it back against a stop I20. It follows that with the handle I III down, the spindle I9 is operatively connected with the axle 2 through the drive mechanism including the gears I3 and I4, and the circuit contact I09I I0 is closed, but that with the handle IOI rotated upward one-half turn, the spindle I9 is disconnected from the axle 2 and the contact I09IIO is open, the handle IOI being held in either of its two positions through the medium of the spring I06.

A second form of mechanism foroperating the spindle I9 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the train axle 2 is threaded at its outer end to receive a nut I29 which is normally provided in roller bearing application to secure the inner race of the hearing. The face of the nut I29 is slotted to receive a lock bar I 30 which is held in place by tap bolts I3! screwed into the end of the axle 2. At least onevof 'theslotsin the face of the nut I291 is finished to receive a drivingball nut I32 of a driving-pin I33 which is-secured in a crank I34. This crank I34 is provided Witha shaft pin I38 to'which is keyeda driving gear I3 A separating plate 8 which iscarried on the main casting 30?..in a manner similar to the separating plate 8 of Fig. 1, isprovided with a hub I35 which is bored to receive two ball bearings I36 and I 31, and in which bearings the hub I39 of the driving gear I3 is journaled. As set forth in connection with Fig. 1, the vehicle axle 2 may be equipped with a self-aligning bearingwhich permits an up anddown motion of the axle. It

is clear that withthe drive mechanism constructed as shown in Figs. 4 and '5 the driving ball nut I32 may move back and forth in the slot of the nut I29 with the result that the meshing ofthe driving gear I3 with its mate is not affected by the up and down motion of the vehicle axle 2. It is to be seen, therefore, that the spindle I9 of the speed responsive device of Fig. 1 may readily be provided with the mechanism of Figs. 4 and 5.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

'Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a vehicle axle of the type provided with a threaded end to receive a nut which is slotted in its face to receive a lock bar secured to the end of the axle, a spindle journaled on the vehicle in a vertical position adjacent one end of the axle and having fixed thereto at its lower end a bevel gear, a shaft pin jour- 'naled coaxially with the vehicle axle, a bevel gear fixed on said pin to mesh with the bevel gear of the spindle, and a crank arm fixed on said shaft pin and having at its outer end a drive pin to slidably fit a slot of said nut for operating the spindle in response to rotation of said axle.

2. In combination with a vehicle axle of the type provided with a threaded end to receive a nut which is slotted in its face to receive a lock bar secured to the end of the axle, a spindle journaled on the vehicle adjacent one end of the axle and disposed at right angles thereto, a bevel gear fixed on said spindle, a horizontal shaft pin journaled substantially coaxially with the axle at the end thereof and having fixed thereon a bevel gear for meshing with the first mentioned gear, a crank arm in fixed relation with the shaft pin, and a drive pin secured to the outer end of the crank arm to fit into one of the slots of said nut for driving the spindle in response to rotation of the axle notwithstanding a limited amount of up. and down motion of the axle.

3. In combination with a vehicle axle of the type provided with a threaded end to receive a nut which is slotted in its face to receive a lock bar secured to the end axle, a housing mounted on the vehicle adjacent one end of the axle, a spindle journaled in said housing with a driving pin member secured to the outer end of said crank arm to fit a slot of said nut for driving said spindlein response to rotationof the axle unaffected by the up and down motion of said axle. l

4. In combination with a vehicle axle, a spindle journaled on the vehicle in a vertical position at an end of the axle, a tubular shaft mounted on the spindle and provided with splines whichmate with splines on the spindle, a bevel gear cut on said shaft, a shaft pin having a'bevel gear keyed thereon adaptable of engagementwith the first mentioned bevel gear, means including a plate secured to the end of the axle to mount said shaft pin coaxially with the vehicle axle, means including a spring back of the gear on the tubularshaft to bias that gear into mesh with the gear on the shaft pin for operating the spindle, a shifting plate fixed on said tubular shaft, and means cooperating with said shifting plate for at times shifting said tubular shaft for disengaging said gears.

5. In combination with a vehicle axle, a spindle, means to journal said spindle in a vertical position at an end of said axle, a tubular shaft mounted on said spindle and provided with splines which mate with splines on the spindle, abevel gear in fixed relation with the'tubular shaft near its lower end and a shifting plate fixed on the shaft near its upper end, a shaft pin mounted coaxially with the axle and operatively connected therewith for rotation with the axle, another bevel gear fixed on said shaft pin and disposedabove and meshing with the first mentioned bevel gear, spring means back of said first mentioned gear to bias the gears into mesh, means'i'ncludingian eccentric disposed above said shifting plate efiective when rotated to shift the tubular shaft against the bias of the spring means to disengage said gears, a manually operable handle having a first and a second position, and means actuated by said handle when moved from its first to its second position to rotate said eccentric as required to disengage the gears.

6. In combination with a vehicle axle, a spindle, means to journal said spindle in a vertical position at an end of said axle, a tubular shaft mounted on said spindle and provided with splines which mate with splines on the spindle, a bevel gear in fixed relation with the tubular shaft near its lower end and a shifting plate fixed on the shaft near its upper end, a shaft pin mounted coaxially with the axle and operatively connected therewith for rotation with the axle, another bevel gear fixed on said shaft pin and disposed above and meshing with the first mentioned bevel gear, spring means back of said first mentioned gear to bias the gears into mesh, means including an eccentric disposed above said shifting plate effective when rotated to shift the tubular shaft against the bias of the spring means to disengage said gears, a manually operable handle having a first and a second position, means actuated by said handle when moved from its first to its second position to actuate said eccentric as required to disengage said gears, and other spring means effective to lock said handle in each of its two positions against movement due to vibration.

7. In combination with a vehicle axle, a spindle, means to journal said spindle in a vertical position at an end of said axle, a tubular shaft mounted on said spindle and provided with splines which mate with splines on the spindle, a bevel gear in fixed relation with the tubular shaft near its lower end and a shifting plate fixed on the shaft near its upper end, a shaft pin mounted coaxially with the axle and operatively connected therewith for rotation with the axle, another bevel gear fixed on said shaft pin and disposed above and meshing with the first mentioned bevel gear, spring means back of said first mentioned 7 gear to bias the gears into mesh, means including an eccentric disposed above said shifting plate effective when rotated to shift the tubular shaft against the bias of the spring means to disengage said gears, a manually operable handle having a first and a second position, means actuated by said handle when moved from its first to its secend position to rotate said eccentric as required to disengage said gear, a circuit controlling contact, and cam means engaging said shifting plate operative to open the contact when the plate is moved by said handle and to close the contact when the plate is moved in response to said spring means.

8. In combination with a vehicle axle, a spindle, means to journal said spindle in a vertical position at an end of said axle, a tubular shaft mounted on said spindle and provided with splines which mate with splines on the spindle, a bevel gear in fixed relation with the tubular shaft near its lower end and a shifting plate fixed on the shaft near its upper end, a shaft pin mounted coaxially with the axle and operatively connected therewith for rotation with the axle, another bevel gear fixed on said shaft pin and disposed above and meshing with the first mentioned bevel gear, spring means back of said first mentioned gear to bias the gears into mesh, means including an eccentric disposed above said shifting plate effective when rotated to shift the tubular shaft against the bias of the spring means to disengage said gears, manually operable means connected with said eccentric effective when actuated to a given position to rotate the eccentric as required to disengage said gears, a contact, other spring means to bias said contact to a closed position, and a rotatable lever operatively connected with the shifting plate to open said contact against the force of said other spring means when the plate is shifted to disengage said gears.

9. In combination with a vehicle axle, a housing mounted on the vehicle adjacent an end of the axle, a spindle having a threaded end and a collar formed on the other end, a tubular shaft slidably mounted on the spindle and having splines that mate with splines on the spindle, a bevel gear and a shifting plate fixed on said shaft, means including two ball hearings to mount said spindle in said housing in a vertical position adjacent the end of the axle with said collar below the axle, the lower one of said bearings disposed in a machined pocket in the housing and its inner race against the collar, the upper one of said bearings disposed in a retainer ring secured to the housing, means including a nut on said threaded end and a hub member above the inner race of said upper bearing to suspend said spindle and shaft from the upper bearing, a shaft pin mounted coaxially with the axle and operatively connected therewith, another bevel gear fixed on said, shaft pin, spring means including a spring disposed between the back of the gear on the tubular shaft and the lower bearing to bias the two gears into engagement, and manually operable means including an eccentric above the shifting plate effective when rotated to shift the tubular shaft against the bias of the spring means to disengage said gears.

HERBERT L. BONE. 

